Adventures in...LOVE!!!

WOW...it's been sooo long since I last blogged in 2011, and I won't even be able to touch the surface of all that's happened in days gone by in this post. But what I will do is inform you of an Adventure so sweet, so perfect, so fairytale, that you may not even believe me (and that's ok). The picture above perfectly depicts the euphoric state I've been in the past 3+ months and you will see why later! The past year has been marked by learning...lots of learning. Learning about myself, learning about relationships, learning about God. What a whirlwind it's been. *SPOILER ALERT* The BIGGEST lesson I learned was the truth of Psalm 37:4 - Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

The desires of your heart...What might that be? Well for any god-fearing, single woman (me), it's most likely a man who loves the Lord unswervingly and loves you with a servant heart!  

I've waited years people, years, to find that man that I could trust with my life. For God to bring him into my life and for him to woo and pursue me like the Holy Spirit does. And alas...28 years into this whole thing called life, he appears. Not in a spooky, ghost-like way, but for real in the flesh! We met Memorial Day Weekend at a friend's monthly devotional night. It was a hot summer night in Austin and as we sat around in a circle I distinctly remember this guy showing up late (on a bike), with the curliest brown hair and the sweetest grin I'd ever seen. Intrigued? Of course. Interested? Not sure. I had just (I mean just) gotten out of a pseudo relationship that week and was kinda over guys, if you know what I mean. I thought I was entering a season of singleness and learning to be ME again. Funny how God has other plans! Brian and I only spoke a brief few minutes (5 tops) because I was bolting out early for a birthday dinner. Brian expressed interest in continuing a conversation later, so I obliged him and got his last (and first) name and told him I'd track him down on Facebook, which I did the following day. 

Admittedly, I was both eager to talk to him again and a little hopeless that it would turn into anything other than friends, which in hindsight I think was a good thing. Brian was hosting a fundraiser for his World Race trip a few days later and invited me to join, and I obliged. I showed up for the end of the movie event and we sat and talked after with a friend (Ellie) for what seemed like all night. I 'm just couldn't get enough of this kid. Then he in his ever so charming way, offered to tune up my bike for me the following week if I'd come over early before the fundraising event...smart man. He knew the key to my heart - bikes! haha (well one of them). Well, that bike tune up turned into more invites to hangout, ride bikes, make dinners and just have so much fun. About two weeks after we met, Brian told me he liked me, as any gentleman should do. But at the time we both agreed we were going to "take it slow" for various reasons. And I'm pretty sure it was that same night or the next that I got the guts to invite him on my family vacation to Colorado! We were leaving in about 2 weeks to drive to Pagosa Springs for a week, and I secretly was hoping and praying he'd say yes! As it turns out, Brian is an adventure fanatic like me so this sort of last minute invite was oh so exciting and seeing as he was planning to quit his job around that same time, he just made provision to do so by the time we left on the trip! REALLY? IS THIS REAL? I was floored that God was going to allow us this 24/7 exposure and knew it would make or break us! 

On the way to Pagosa Springs we stopped in Amarillo to meet my family and spend the night. Before meeting my parents we drove through Palo Duro Canyon State Park, one of Brian's fave spots, and it was breathtaking (much like our relationship)! It was there that we made our relationship official, and consequently, it was there that he first told me he LOVED me, yep, that 4 letter word came out of his cute mouth as we were biking up the hardest hill I've ever attempted in my life. Needless to say, it was a breeze for him, but I was huffing and puffing all the way. In fact, I never even responded when he told me he loved me (halfway up) because a) I thought I was hallucinating and b) I was worried about breathing at the moment! Did he really say he loved me? That was the question I asked after we topped the hill. "Yep. I totally do" or something to that effect was his answer. I was beaming!!!

The next day we wake up in Colorado and Brian takes me on a surprise date outing that he had pre-planned. To by overwhelming joy and delight, it was a hot air balloon ride! This is something that had been on my bucket list for years. Is this a dream? It was high up in the sky that I felt 100% sure that I LOVED Brian too, and felt compelled to tell him. We were both over the moon (almost literally). Come to think of it, a hot air balloon ride is a great metaphor for our relationship. The balloon got blown up really fast and has taken us so far! During the trip we biked, hiked, made dinner for my family together, went to the hot springs, rode horses and hiked a 14er together! It was the most magical trip and one we both will remember forever. On this trip our love was sealed with a holy kiss and by the end of the week we were talking about MARRIAGE! How's that for taking things SLOW?

Back in Austin we literally spent every day together (he had no job and I work for myself) and it was bliss. We were prepping for his upcoming 11 month mission trip, meeting family and spending time with friends....and planning for our future. Just a few days after our 3 month anniversary of meeting, Brian took me to Butler Park, one of my favorite places in Austin, and asked me to be his WIFE!!! And of course I said yes! I can't imagine spending my life with anyone other than my best friend! He is truly the biggest blessing ever and We Are Set To Be Wed September, 29, 2013!

As you can see, it's been quite the fairytale romance, and I give God all the credit for that! He is truly the author of our lives and love stories! And ours is quite unique in the timing of it all and what it looks like now...Brian is gone on an 11 month mission trip through Adventures in Mission called The World Race. He is traveling with a team and spends 11 months in each country working with partner ministries in each country. He's already on month 2 and we've had pretty good communication, but let's be honest, long-distance is a challenge. Luckily for us we know there's an end in sight when he returns and we can be together forever. I encourage you to read his blog (he's an excellent writer) and follow him, pray for him or contribute financially to his mission! www.brianbarnett.theworldrace.org

Thank you for reading our Adventure in Love...I'm quite sure the adventures will surely continue once he's back and we are married!

 

*photos courtesy of Twinty Photography

Thank-Full!

Recently I was introduced to a new word: Eucharisteo. Thanksgiving. It has changed my life. Ok, ok, it is changing my life. Day by day by glorious day. I have my dear friend Anna to THANK for diligently insisting I buy and read Ann Voskamp's best seller One Thousand Gifts. I must admit, I wasn't looking for another book to add to my long list of "when i have time to reads." However, something in her voice coerced me all the way to Barnes and Noble (yes some of us still shop old school). 

If I had time here I'd probably quote the whole book, but I'll spare myself and anyone reading the effort and recommend you go buy your own copy. I do want to point out a few things I learned along the way and how God is revealing to me that adventure presents itself in many forms...often the quiet still form (oddly enough).

 Blur. Rapid movement. Whirlwind. Descriptions of my life as of late, and I'm surely not alone. Why so fast? Why such a hurry? Our lives are but a vapor. As years go by do your memories look like this picture? Do the lines blur and edges soften? Perhaps this is why our culture is so obsessed with photos? Moments in time, caught forever like a fly on tape. Memorialized somewhere other than our minds.

"Wherever You Are, Be All There."
 So simple, yet so life giving. Ann reminded me that the fullness of life can only be embraced, remembered and cherished when we stop to fully experience it. Stop visiting with a friend, checking my phone & making mental to-do lists simultaneously and engage. Be present. Doesn't said friend deserve my full attention? Why do we have to feel that we are so much more efficient when we over-multitask? I'm the worst. An efficiency nut. God is working. On a recent trip to Chicago to visit friends I vowed to put this lesson into practice. Over the course of 6 days I probably met with 20+ friends over chai, meals, and walks. Each time tempted to revert, each success a step toward Eucharisteo. Live in the Present was my motto a few years ago...wonder when that was squeezed out? "Time is only of the essence, because time is the essence of God."

"Thanksgiving - giving thanks in everything - prepares the way that God might show us His fullest salvation in Christ. At the Eucharist, Christ breaks His heart to heal ours. I would never experience the fullness of my salvation until I expressed the fullness of my thanks every day, and eucharisteo is elemental to living the saved life."

In light of this it is odd that we Americans take one, just one, day a year to give thanks. If I had anything to do with it, everyday would be Thanksgiving (minus the turkey, etc!). I am convinced that the path to peace, to joy and fulfillment lies in giving thanks. It's crazy hard to be negative, angry, frustrated or miserable when you are genuinely thankful. Thankfulness is a lamp that shines brightly on all the good that is often overshadowed with our dark view of bad. "For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness." (1 Thess 5:5) Thankfulness opens the blinds to light. And light warms our soul.

Empty to Fill.  

"The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring." (Is 58:10-11)

"Eucharisteo has taught me to trust that there is always enough God. He calls us to serve, and He, very God, kneels down to serve us as we serve. Spend the whole of your one wild and beautiful life investing in many lives, and God simply will not be outdone. God extravagantly pays back everything we give away and exactly in the currency that is not of this world but the one we yearn for: Joy in Him." I love that! Wild and Beautiful life! Yes please! For most of us giving, serving, expecting nothing in return isn't just unnatural, it almost sounds mythological. The world's way of giving to get just doesn't work with God. He gives and we learn from Him how to give and the cycle continues. Joy is the reward. Glory is the goal. When we "I" becomes "He" our lives, habits, desires, change. Less of me God, more of You.

"Eucharisteo, the Greek word with the hard meaning and the harder meaning to live -- this is the only way from empty to full...full of grace...to fully live."

Joyfully, 

Michelle

It's Official...I'm a triathlete!

Couples Triathlon, Decker lake







I knew it was gonna be a good day when I saw this! If that gift from heaven can't calm unwieldily nerves, I'm not sure anything can.







The swim, which I thought would be my worst sport turned out to be fairly enjoyable. Gliding past neon orange buoys, kicking people off my feet and gasping for air have taken a liking to me. And i'm not complaining! The swim was 800m.







Tracy was my partner in crime for the "Couples" Tri... We are just friends! Hah...and both being blonde and being bike twins we appropriately names our team the Blonde Bombshells! She's my training buddy and the girl who smiles the whole race...and she's fast too! So lucky to have such a rockstar pair up with a rookie!






Biking will always be my 1st love when it comes to triathlons. I just really enjoy he wind in my face, going fast and the thrill of it. It helps that this is the part I'm naturally best at ;) The bike was 11 miles and pretty hilly.

The 3.1 Mile run is documented on fb pretty well by our fans... It felt like 13.1, was pretty hilly and hot. My only relief was dumping the ice cold water on my head and rolling up my shirt! I just kept telling myself to put 1 foot in front of the other.

Transitions are the tricky part of races. You have to be quite organized and efficient so that you don't waste time in the race. I didn't mind transitioning; it was a much needed relief each time!

All in all I feel pretty great about my 1st Sprint Triathlon clocking in at 1:33! They say this sport is addictive, and I guess they are right bc I'm already planning 2 more triathlons in Sept & Oct!

Check out my Moxie Multisport Crew! Well half of us!







That's all for now...back to training with coach Adri! She beat me this time, but we'll see about the next ;-)







-Peace

Location:Atx

Couples Triathlon! Blonde Bombshell Style!

It's here!!! My long-awaited 1st Triathlon is upon me! I can't believe that tomorrow I can "officially" call myself a Triathlete!

I am happy to report that I actually feel ready and excited! I'm sure the butterflies will arrive tomorrow, but for now I'm just so happy it's here! I did a mini Tri by myself last weekend, which was no fun but gave me the confidence I needed for tomorrow!

Check out this preparation ;)



My first race is the Couple's Tri and I'm doing it with my bike twin, Tracy! Our team name is the Blonde Bombshells of course! Haha! And I'll be sporting my Moxie Multisport kit!

I like race week bc u get to taper! Less workouts and more relaxation were much appreciated after the holiday weekend. My amazing coach also got me a goodie basket full of treats for racing! I'm so thankful to have her partner with me on this journey.

Wish me luck tomorrow! I'll do a post-race update!

Ps. Shocker of the year...I actually like swimming now, gasp!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:ATX

Tri Therapy! Tales of an Aspiring Triathlete!

Nobody warned me that I would need therapy after training for a triathlon! Haha...well, not that kind of therapy, but I'm not sure physical therapy is any less daunting than mental! 

After a few short weeks of Tri training I found myself having some muscle tightness and knee soreness. Most people would just blow this off and keep going (that has always been my mode of operation) but seeing as I've had 5 knee surgeries I think I  have finally learned to "listen to my body." So I told my coach about the pain and she changed my workouts accordingly and recommended I get an injury evaluation from a physical therapist. Being a PT veteran this was not necessarily music to my ears. I have done my fair share of PT and would be fine if our paths never crossed again! But, i guess that's just part of being an athlete and being active. Things break and get worn down. 

I obliged her and got the evaluation and besides stating that I'm a "bio mechanical mess" the news wasn't all that bad! Basically my right (weak side) gluteus minimus and medius aren't firing and are weak. This puts a lot of stress on other parts of my leg like my hamstring, knee and calves, which have been the primary points of contention. The recommendation: 1 month of PT, 2x per week using active release and trigger point therapy. My solution: at the moment I'm not sold on going to the doctor 2x per week, so we have integrated trigger point therapy and rehab exercises into my training routine and I'm hoping this helps. I am supposed to do the PT exercises 2x per day...which is harder than you would think! But ultimately, if it keeps me in the game, is worth it! 

Would love to hear about other people's bouts with therapy, views on Trigger Point, Active Release, etc!  Oh, and I bought some sweet new racing flats that are "green" literally and figuratively! They are super comfy and made 75% from post consumer recycled waste! Pretty awesome! 

Green Silence by Brooks

Silent steps to a Greener future... :)

My VFFs have continued to cause me lots of post-running calf pain so I bought these to switch it up and give my legs more support. Hoping they will be the perfect solution to my knee and calf concerns! Will keep y'all posted! At least they look cool ;) haha!

Pool Talk! Tales of an Aspiring Triathlete!

Yesterday marked my second trip to the pool for exercise...ever! After last week's eventful trip I made sure and called to myself to see if the gym had an indoor pool! Funny thing is, it was actually nice enough to swim outside yesterday, lol. 

I show up a little less intimidated than the time before, prepared with some youtube instructional videos still playing in my head, determined to make this happen. I get to the pool and as luck would have it, there was one lane open...just for me! I do my warm up and when I finish there's a man standing at the end of my lane in a speedo asking me if he can share my lane. I was actually kind of shocked at first. I mean, couldn't he tell I sucked and that his life might be in danger if he were to share with me??? So, as politely as I could muster, I informed him that I was a novice and that he probably didn't want to share a lane with ME...and looking around, there were plenty of other lanes he could share. However, I felt obliged by pool etiquette to say "but if you really want to it's ok with me." And apparently that's all the permission he needed. He plops in and says, "just stay on your side of the line". DUH! Didn't he hear what I just said? So I jokingly reply, "Ok, swim at your own risk!" And to that he says he will just avoid me if it comes to that. Fair enough. We swim for a bit with no collisions thank God! And a few laps later a lane frees up and he's out of my space.

Thinking I'm in the clear, I continue on with my workout, and no sooner had I completed 50 meters do I look up and, you guessed it, another man, thankfully not in a speedo, appears at the end of my lane asking to share! "What is it with people?" I think to myself. Why do they insist on sharing with me when there are all these other people to share with?  I'm getting a little agitated, but again try to put on a smile. I then proceed to give him the same spiel as the last guy, but to no avail. It's even worse...this overweight grandpa, who used to swim in college, lol, is set on my lane. When I thoughtfully tell him that I may run into him, he replies, "Well, it's been so long since a pretty girl has run into me that I'm sure I won't mind." EW!!! Really...did he just go there? 

At that point, I just gave a pity laugh and submerged myself into the ice blue water hoping to evade this DOM for a few minutes. After a couple laps he starts giving me pointers, which normally I welcome, but this guy was hard to take serious. But I gave him the benefit of the doubt and headed his breathing technique for a few laps, without much success. 

This swim routine was much more on par with my skill level, after the first one about killed me, my coach pulled back a bit. SHOCKER of the day: I actually think that I could start enjoying this whole swimming thing at some point. One thing I became acutely aware of is my need for speed. It's really hard for me to slow down and focus on breathing and technique b/c I'm wired to just get the workout done as fast as possible. But fast doesn't always equal efficient, so that's what I'm going to start working on. 

The swim practices ended with a somewhat pleasant surprise! The Y had a hot tub, sauna and steam room! Eager to get some good muscle relaxation I head for the hot tub right after my swim, only to find gramps already in there soaking it up :( I couldn't really just walk away when I saw him so I proceeded with caution, staying on the perimeter. Then low and behold, Speedo guy comes and sits right next to me. Really?!? All this made it pretty uncomfortable, but the kicker was the cloudy water and hair floating in it! I almost vomited and excused myself from my misery. After the Hot Tub Fail, I locate the sauna, which is actually nice, clean and serene. I tend to avoid steam rooms at all costs because breathing in other people's sweat just doesn't do it for me. 

All in all a successful, yet comical day at the pool. Here's to hoping next time is more swimming and less talking!

Tri-ing! Tales of an aspiring Triathlete - Week 1 Done!

Thanks for tuning back in! I did it! I finished week one of Tri training, injury free ;)

I forgot to mention in my first blog the 2 Triathlons I'm training for: The Rookie Tri and The Couples Tri! If you are in the Austin area you should join in the fun!

Glad to have this first week behind me. I'm not gonna lie, it was tough. For starters getting back into the habit of working out 6 days a week wasn't easy. Then there was the soreness that set in on day four and has lingered all week. Thursday I ran the mandated 3 miles on my training routine at the gym because there was snow on the ground!!! It wasn't optimal, but it did allow me to track my pace and seeing as I've been out of the running loop for some time, my just shy of a 10 min mile pace was not what I had hoped for... but it is what it is! I used to run a 8.5 minute mile when I ran half marathons, so getting back to that pace is my personal goal. I'm interested to see how long it takes to get there!


Friday I'm back in the gym for round 2 of strength training. It's not as easy this time around because I'm feeling the effects of the past 4 days of training and my legs are super sore. Imagine being aware of every step when you just walk about normally...not normal, lol. But I figure working through the pain is best and finish the workout. 


Saturday, my calves are on fire. I'm not just "noticing" my steps, but regretting them at this point. Ever since I started running in my Vibram Five Fingers I've had this issue. I know it's because I'm running differently (more on the balls of my feet) but I really had hoped it would start tapering off! If you have any thoughts on this please do share! I endure it because my knee (which is notorious) hasn't hurt at all since I've started wearing them! If you wanna know more on why I wear them read this blog.

My trusty workout gear!

Tomorrow is Sunday...and is my "rest" day. Fitting seeing as it's the Sabbath! However, I really wanna ride b/c it's going to be nice outside again! Maybe I'm already becoming one of those crazy triathletes, mentally anyhow, lol! It is the Superbowl tomorrow, so maybe that will be my athletic endeavor for the day! On to Tri-ing Week 2!!!

 

Tri-ing...

 

I am currently TRI-ing to become a TRIathlete! One of my goals for 2011 is to break into this competitive sport and actually get good at it. If you had asked me a year ago if I'd ever do a triathlon, I would have said, "heck no!" 

For starters, I had a major knee surgery last year and was out of the running game for a whole year. Secondly, I hate swimming. Not going to sugarcoat my disdain for using a peaceful, serene pool for a torture chamber! For me, pools have always been about relaxing, working on my tan, reading a good book or taking naps. I have always found plenty of other ways to cause myself grief, so there was no need for another. Until...

...I moved to Austin, TX, Tri capitol of the USA! I eagerly got on board with cycling, purchasing my first road bike this year and joining the ranks of my tri friends during the "bike" portion of their workouts. However, the minute they would lace up their shoes or head to the pool I was OUT. Then something strange happened. I got this crazy idea that I should TRI this sport out too. I think I must have gotten caught up in all the excitement of it all and just blurted out that I would do one...and from that moment there was no turning back! 

So, eager to not suck at this new sport, I decided to start training early. A friend had offered to coach me and I gladly accepted. Let's be honest, I need all the help I can get! Plus she finished a half Ironman last year and is training for a full Ironman this year. Let's just say, I'm lucky to get to learn from the best! January rolled around and with it my first Tri training week. But as luck would have it I contracted a nasty virus that left me hacking my way to a bruised rib (I know, don't ask...just google it). Despite this injury I was determined not to stop training and powered through 2 days of workouts before I was literally debilitated by pain. Laughing, coughing, sneezing, even breathing caused great pain. Sigh...this is not how I imagined things.

After consulting Web MD and texting a doc friend of mine, I self-prescribed 2 weeks of non-activity and a pure food detox. Looking back, I'm not quite sure which was harder! 

Finally, after 2 looooong weeks, I'm back in action and ready to become a bona fide triathlete. I immediately gravitated back to my bike, as the 70+ degree weather wooed me outside. Between Sunday and Monday I rode over 60 miles and loved every minute. Then, Tuesday, shows up and my first swim practice is on the schedule, yuck! I seriously, spent more time dreading the workout than actually doing it. I recruited a friend to come swim with me to help ease me into it. Plus, she is a swimmer and could give me pointers. Did I mention that the temperature was in the 40's outside this day??? It wouldn't have been a big deal if the first gym we attempted to go to had had a non-kiddie size indoor pool. Or if the guy working there wouldn't have misinformed us that the 2nd gym he directed us to had an adult size heated indoor pool. But no, we show up and request the pool, and the guy behind the desk laughs. Not understanding what was so funny, he goes on to explain that we aren't the only crazy ones wanting to swim outside today. Hmmm, I think I literally said, FML, without realizing it. Why did this have to be so hard? 

Five minutes later after deciding not to wuss out, I shimmied into my horrific one piece suit and scurried like the ugly duckling to the pool as fast as my feet could carry me. The wind whipped steam off the top of the 83 degree pool like steam rising from a warm latte, except less charming. Jumping in with enthusiasm I said, "Let's make this quick!" The drills were good, but hard. I'm def not in swimming shape, nor do I feel remotely graceful in the water. Hopefully, I'll get the hang of it sooner than later, but for now I'll at least keep the lifeguards entertained, lol! A huge thanks to Christy for bearing the cold with me and to Adri for being willing to take this journey with me! Y'all are the best! 

Image Source:onlineclasses.net

Strength training today was a breeze, but there's a run on the schedule tomorrow and Austin is calling for unseasonably cold temps. Looks like I'll be spending some QT with the treadmill. Yet another tri to get me to quit. Ain't happenin! Here goes nothing!!!

1st Newsletter: Do you Have the Guts to Be Beautiful?

Hey Friends,

I have been a busy little bee working on creating a new monthly newsletter called Be Well. It's been a blast learning how to do this and I am excited to have a way to share lots of fun health and wellness tips and learnings with everyone. My career with Juice Plus+ has thrust me into a whole new understanding of health and helped me redefine what wellness looks like. I'm so thankful for the education I'm receiving as a part of what I do that I can't help but share it with others! So, alas, this newsletter is going to be focused on Beauty, Vitality, and Performance. Seeing as I believe that nutrition and good health are the common thread that binds these three things together!

Here's a link to check out my first ever newsletter: Be Well: Do you have the guts to be beautiful?
If you enjoy it and want more, simply go to the top of this page and click "subscribe."

 

Thanks to all of you!

Be Well,
Michelle

The Big "O"

ORLANDO that is!

I had the privilege this past weekend to experience "A Juice Plus+ World" and all that it entails. After a full-out year of travels and exotic locations I didn't think anything could top some of my recent adventures. Boy was I wrong! I know, I know...Orlando doesn't sound all that fantastic, and if you judge it by the drinking water, it isn't! Luckily, that was not my sole criteria for ranking this past weekend as one of the top 5 this year!

 














Here are some of the HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Juice Plus+ Boot Camp! Four action-packed days of learning about how JP+ has been changing lives and transforming people's health for almost 20 years! I met people who had MS, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Asthma and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome who've been taking JP+ for 10+ years and are virtually symptom free! And heard from world-renknowed doctors who shared with us the science behind this great product.

I'm so cheesy :)

2. Juice Plus+ People! I couldn't have picked 6,000 better people to share this weekend with. Had some much needed time with my mentor Curt and met JP+ friends from across the US that I had only been virtual (FB) friends with until this weekend, so fun! I've never met a group of more kind-hearted, generous, motivated and inspirational people in my life. And I'm blessed beyond measure to work alongside them! Even met a few "out-of-towners" from down under...def going to work that connection into a trip soon!

My ATX Mentor & LA Friend!

Aussie Mates - Stephen  & Marty...aren't we cute!

3. Juice Plus+ Par-tay! We work hard and play harder, haha. Saturday night after the big conference was over, the company threw a HUGE costume/dance/karaoke party. I was floored by some of the creativity from folks of all ages. Esp, the cute lil old ladies who dressed up as the Juice Plus bottle, lol. Also loved me some mardi-gras cajuns! Needless to say, we danced the night away!!!

I love her!

Crazy Cajuns!

4. Juice Plus+...Live Life to the Plus+! Bear Grylls (ya know the guy that does crazy stuff on man vs. wild?) got up close and personal with us sharing his story and how Juice Plus+ has been a part of his life since he was 19!

So there you have it folks! This is what "Living Life to the Plus+" looks like! Leave a comment or contact me if you are interested in knowing more! www.mslapejuiceplus.com

Some call it LUCK...

If luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity, then count me one lucky chick! Ok, ok, in this blog, I use the word "preparation" lightly in the sense that I had the proper gear and was donning my relentless spirit of adventure! Nevertheless, I had the good fortune of coming across a real deal BMX course during one of my bike rides through Colorado Springs a while back.  And upon seeing a 3 year old successfully complete the course, my competititve nature kicked in (i know, it's sad that I compete against 3 year olds, lol) and I decided to try my hand at this super intimidating sport.

As you can see, I completed the track (a few times actually, each time building confidence) and can rest in the fact that a 3-year-old won't outride me! Haha...However, some punk kid did pass me on that last section of the course and as a friend pointed out, I didn't get too much air on the jumps! But...on a more serious note, it was fun to challenge myself with a new sport. To muster up the courage to try something outside my comfort zone and risk failing! Being a perfectionists, it pains me greatly to fail, or perform sub-par, however, I'm becoming more and more ok with it as I thrust myself into new sports and hobbies such as cycling and hiking! More blogs to come on both of these!  

Ready, Set, Go!

Let's Get Ready to Ramble!

 “On the road again, Goin’ places that I’ve never been. Seein’ things that I may never see again. And I can’t wait to get on the road again.” These famed lyrics define the 8 days I spent on the Mountain Madness American Rambler tour in August. The tour, which started in Salt Lake City, took us to the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone and Glacier National Park in just over a week’s time.

So naturally, each day was action packed and full of fun.  I knew I was in for a wild ride when our first day involved a ramblin’ 14 mile bike ride through the majestic Grand Teton Mountains. Who knew a ride through the “Big Breasts” (French translation) could be so incredible, haha.  Apparently, the French trappers who named these glorious beauties had a thing for the female anatomy. Alas, they were nothing short of impressive! Our ride led us to Jenny Lake, the most crystal clear freshwater lake I’ve ever seen, and that’s no exaggeration! I honestly wanted to just set up camp right on it’s beaches and stay there the full eight days, but luckily our guide knew what was in store and convinced me to get back “on the road again.”

Jenny Lake

Lakes seemed to be a theme of this portion of the trip. The day following our bike ride we braved a 9-mile hike through the Lupine Valley to Surprise and Amphitheater lakes. Both of which captivated my greatest imagination and made the 3,000 ft elevation hike soooo worth it! Surprise Lake was my favorite of the two and the site we chose for a relaxing lunch in the glorious sunshine. In fact, some of my favorite photos of the trip came from this hike!

Surprise Lake

Unknown Lake

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and I don’t have time to type that many anyhow, so I’ll leave you with this final picture and the hope that you too “Just can’t wait to get on the road again!”

WoMan vs. Rapid

On my recent American Rambler trip to the mountains I was introduced to a totally crazy new sport called Riverboarding. If you haven’t heard, it’s basically the thrill seeking, adventure enthusiast’s new drug of choice. Picture this…an ice-cold river, class 3+ rapids, you and a thin foam board. Basically man vs. rapid (surprised Bear Grylls hasn’t featured this yet).  Riverboarders leave plush rafts at home for this date with danger. I know what you’re probably thinking, “What the heck? Why would anyone want to go HEAD FIRST into white water rapids? That’s just crazy!” And you would be right…it is crazy.

I’ll admit, I was a bit squeamish about the whole ordeal, but had to don my poker face. Letting the guys know, would just give them more ammo to torture me with (and I’d had enough). Plus, there is a part of me that loves danger and being a tad bit freaked out – that same part drives me to watch movies like Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Silence of the Lambs, ahhh! Oh, and did I mention that I’d get to see the guys with their shirts off?

As you can see, this sport requires quite the getup: full-body wetsuit, booties, helmet, life jacket and flippers. Clearly the inventor was male – not concerned with fashion or flattering attire. The guys definitely used this opportunity to use our Aussie mate’s favorite phrase “sweet as” often (I’m sure you can understand why).

Today we were riverboarding with the Montana River Guides down the Clark Fork River near Missoula, MT. Around 1pm, I signed my life away and started praying for the best! It was a great day to be out, sunny, blue skies, 75 degrees and plenty of rapids.  The chill of the water made the hair on the back of my neck raise as I entered the emerald water. Squealing like a little girl at the build-a-bear shop, I pushed off into the fast-paced waters following our trusty guide. My timidity quickly vanished like the passing clouds after we hit our first set of rapids. It was a rush, literally. The words thrilling, invigorating and intoxicating come to mind. The trip consisted of slow steady periods of floating interspersed with fast, furious flows ready to overturn and engulf us.

To our surprise we even had the opportunity to Riversurf. I found out quickly that it doesn’t mean you get to stand on your board (much to my dismay). Rather, you either go backwards into the rapids (not scary at all, haha) or you jump head first into the rapids and once you reach the big boy you kick like crazy and catch the top of the wave and ride it like a roller coaster. Catching a wave in the midst of rapids is such a disorienting experience. Finding myself in the dead center of the rapids, feeling like time was standing still, legs flailing (not fully necessary) it hit me that I was actually surfing!!! At that moment a thick coat of pride enveloped me just before the waves did!

Before I knew it we were swimming to the shore and the dance with danger was done.  They say time flies when you’re having fun…so this must have been a BLAST! All the cold and fear had dissipated and I was ready for round two! Let’s just say, I met my match! 

Here’s a video from the Montana River Guides of the Alberton Gorge where we riverboarded!

Bearanoid!!!

Bear·a·noia [bear-uh-noia] – noun

1. A mental disorder characterized by systematized delusions and the projection of personal conflicts, which are ascribed to the supposed hostility of bears, sometimes progressing to disturbances of consciousness and aggressive acts believed to be performed in self-defense.

2. Baseless or excessive suspicion of the motives of bears.

Molesting...really?!?

As a novice camper and the only girl on my recent 8-day American Rambler mountain trek, I was bound to be picked on and the butt of many jokes. Regardless, I hate to admit that the first 2 days/nights of the trip, they had me completely FREAKED out about bears! You see, bears (700lb grizzlies and tree climbing black ones) inhabit the great Teton Mountains, Yellowstone AND Glacier National Park - all places where I was to rest my pretty little head to each night. Bears apparently have an acute sense of smell, light-years beyond what normal homo sapiens can think about smelling, and they use it to find food. No big deal right? Lock up the food and you’re good? Have you heard of a Bear Bin? I may have made up that term, but it’s a huge metal coffin with chains and a yellow warning sign that reads: Be Bear Aware. It ALL smells to a bear. Please take care. Lock it up!

Bear coffin

And by saying it “ALL” smells that must mean me right? The boys had me believing that it was quite probable for a bear to come wandering through our camp to rummage for food and penetrate my oh-so-comforting paper-thin sheet of protection known as a tent! My genius plan was as the guidebooks advise: play dead and try not to pee myself! It didn’t help that just the week prior to our trip someone had been mauled TO DEATH in this neck of the woods by a ferocious man-eating bear (maybe I’m exaggerating a bit)! You know it’s serious when people carry special Bear spray and bells!

Our first night campsite!

These warnings/threats gave me OCD tendencies of checking and rechecking my bag to make sure it was void of any toiletries or food or smelly stuff. To this end, they convinced me that even wearing deodorant was risky and that I should forgo it the following day on our 10 mile, 3k elevation hike…and I did!!! Only to find out the following day that they had all worn deodorant and thought it was pretty heeelarious that I believed them. Grrrr…I was so mad that I considered painting their tents with honey, but a small part of me was still “bearanoid” so I refrained. As the saying goes, “All’s well that ends well.” We returned from our trip safe and sound without a single bear scare (much to the boys dismay)!

Camp Olive Grove Photo Blog!

Cirali, Turkey (camp)

Pebble Beaches of the Mediterranean

Kushks for hanging out

Jr. High Girls - 1st Day of Camp!

HS Wild Women - Week 1 Skit

The Human Knot...

Beauty

Strength

Natural Fires Burning from prehistoric times!

Perfect for JUMBO S'mores!!!

Diversity: We painted our Indian names on rocks with symbols ;)

Put my cheerleading days to good use!

Fortified Pirate Castle

Sr. High Boyz bustin' a move!

Stunning

Creation

Public Profession of Faith

Buried with Christ...Risen with new life!

Detail

Provision

Adventure

Innocence

Joy

Turkey!